It's the go-home show for Final Battle 2011, folks!
The big, year-ending internet pay-per-view (iPPV) is tomorrow (Dec. 23) but Ring of Honor (ROH) has one more show to go before they once again invade New York City.
What's that? You want to watch Final Battle 2011? Well, it's a good time that it's incredibly easy to do so! Just click here and with less than $15 -- a fourth of the cost of a WWE show -- you can check out what is sure to be a can't miss event.
Aside from an excellent video package highlighting what will be the final show of the year, this week's episode also includes former champion Eddie Edwards in singles action taking on Andy Ridge.
And in the main event, ROH World Champion Davey Richards takes on Survival of the Fittest 2011 winner Michael Elgin in a Proving Ground Contest. Can the champ defeat the Truth Martini's monster? And if he does, what kind of toll will it take on his body going into Final Battle?
But enough talk, it's time for wrestling!
Welcome back to the Davis Arena in Louisville, KY. We're only days away from Final Battle so we launch immediately into a taped promo from World Championship challenger Eddie Edwards. He talks about how he's going into his match with no distractions and feels that former NWA champ Dan Severn will prove to be the ace up his sleeve. And the promo leads to...
Andy Ridge vs. Eddie Edwards
They shake hands to start and circle the ring. Truth Martini has joined Nigel McGuinness and Kevin Kelly in the commentary booth. Inside the ring, Edwards in control with some good mat wrestling. Martini with an awesome zinger at the expense of Kelly. "I'm surprise your sphincter doesn't get jealous of all the crap that comes out of your mouth." Ha!
Back in the ring, Ridge is starting to find his form and dueling dropkicks lead to a test of strength. It's broken up in the ropes and Edwards absolutely slays Ridge with some knife-edge chops. He sends Ridge to the ropes and tries to pick him up but "Right Leg" floats over, nailing some chops of his own.
Ridge takes control momentarily but soon enough the champ is back on top. Another huge chop and Edwards nearly hits a backpack stunner. Ridge fights it off and lands some nice kicks that have the former champ dazed. He's still able to roll "Right Leg" up for a pin attempt before transitioning to a modified STF.
Back elbow from Ridge and then hits an awesome slingshot cutter for two. Edwards recovers quickly and destroys Ridge with a lariat. He follows up with a powerbomb and then sinks in the Dragon Sleeper for an immediate tap.
And that's exactly what Davey Richards' match with Kyle O'Reilly should have been a few weeks ago.
Winner: Edwards
Video montage of the feud between The Briscoe Brothers' and The World's Greatest Tag Team starting with "Dem Boys" chair attack and culminating in tomorrow's Final Battle card.
Next up is the Final Battle Countdown which you can see here:
Proving Ground Contest match: Davey Richards vs. Michael Elgin w/ Truth Martini
Lockup to start, Elgin muscles the champ against the ropes. Another lockup, another rope break. This time Richards nails Elgin with a forearm which Elgin responds to in kind. The champ rolls out to compose himself before getting back into the ring and taking the fight to the mat.
Rope break gets them back to their feet. Richards sent off the ropes twice and runs into the brick wall that is Elgin. "Unbreakable" lifts the champ onto his shoulders but Richards is able to elbow his way free. A dropkick from the champ puts Elgin on his back and the champ takes over momentarily before getting nailed with a HUGE spinning side slam.
They head to the outside and Elgin continues the assault. Back inside the ring, Elgin taunts his opponent. He ends up tossing the champ to the outside and distracts the referee, allowing Martini to attack the champ. Nefarious! Also, Martini is dressed like Huggie Bear from Starsky and Hutch.
Richards ends up mounting a comeback and spills Elgin to the outside before nailing him with a suicide dive.
Commercial break~!
They're back inside the ring. During the break, Richards destroyed Elgin with forearms but "Unbreakable" kills him with an Argentine backbreaker drop. Elgin kicked to the outside. Richards hops out to the apron and attempts a running punt but Elgin captures the leg and hits a muscle buster on the floor. Oh man, that was brutally awesome.
Richards BARELY makes it back into the ring before the 20 count. He crawls to Elgin's feet who screams, "Die, Davey! Die!" Elgin scoops him up and slams him down for a two count. Forearms, another slam, and another two count. "Unbreakable" sets up a powerbomb but Richards fights it and pulls his opponent's legs out from under him and hits a double stomp.
The champ gets his opponent on the top turnbuckle and hits a sick chop. He goes up for a suplex but Elgin punches his way out of his. Richards responds with headbutts and nails the superplex! A running Yakuza kick does nothing to Elgin. A second does nothing. They're trading forearms in the middle of the ring. The big man leaves his feet and drops Richards with an enziguri!
This match has been pretty damn good so far.
Forearms from Elgin, kicks from Richards. The champ backs "Unbreakable" into the corner. Elgin charges forwards, Richards reverses into a German suplex for two. Back to his feet, Richards is held up by Martini. Elgin uses the distraction to hit a German of his own but the champ flips out of it and nails a kick right to his opponent's chest.
Richards quickly hops to the apron and nails Martini with a running punt! He hops to the top turnbuckle and hits a double stomp for two. A kick straight to the back of Elgin's dome gets another two so Richards slaps on an armbar. Elgin stacks him up and nearly pulls a move off but Richards slides over and rolls him up for the three!
Winner: Richards
Martini in the ring but Richards ain't no fool. He sees the manager coming a mile away but can't keep from getting obliterated with a release German from Elgin. The House of Truth beat him down and Edwards comes out for the save. He grabs the title to hit Elgin with but "Unbreakable" shoves the champ in Edwards' way and Richards is nailed with the belt.
Richards comes to and sees his former partner holding the belt and responds by tackling him. Edwards with a Dragon Sleeper! Team Richards is out to break up the fight and the two need just about every official in the back to keep them apart.
That's it for this week! See you tomorrow for Final Battle!